Keyhole illuminating device



July 8, 1958 R. c. FORD KEYHOLE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1954 m T N E V m 4 5 g 6 0 0 Z Z 2 Z 55 a #2 5 5 4 S f m Fr; 2: r I// III 5 V "HI! z TA J T v a .9 1| X 0 \J w l v0 j m. M a m 3 v United States Patent 2,842,657 KEYHOLE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Raymond C. Ford, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 14, 1954, Serial No. 455,865

Claims. (Cl. 240-213) This invention relates to a device for illuminating the key-hole of a closure lock.

Objects of the invention are to provide a keyhole-illuminating mechanism wherein:

(l) The mechanism is of low cost construction,

(2) The mechanism is automatically put out of operation by opening of the closure, thereby preventing inadvertent drain on the light source, and

(3) The mechanism is conveniently retained in an operative position without manual attention during use of the key in the keyhole.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings the single figure is an elevational view of one embodiment of the invention shown in position adjacent a building closure. A cover element has been removed for illustration purposes.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is shown a plastic housing including a back wall 12, top wall 14, bottom wall 15, and side walls 16 and 18. The front edge portions of walls 14, 16 and 18, are recessed at 20 to receive a fiat cover element (not shown). Annular bosses 22 and 24 project forwardly from back wall 14 to engage the cover element and form through holes 25 for receiving mounting screws (not shown), the arrangement being such as to fixedly mount housing 10 on the building wall 26.

Positioned within housing 10 is an energy source in the form of a dry cell battery 30. Battery is in electrical engagement with a metal leaf spring 32 and light bulb 34. Bulb 34 is threaded through an opening 36 in metal plate 38, which is removably set into a recess in bottom wall 15. A slot 40 allows bulb 34 to project through bottom wall 15, and a slot 42 serves to slidably support a pin 44. The right end portion of plate 38 is given a circularly concaved configuration so as to continuously engage pin 44. In this manner there is provided a continuous electrical path from battery 30 through light bulb 34 to pin 44.

The upper end portion of pin 44 is provided with an enlarged head or button 46 which is adapted to engage the lower end portion of arm 48 formed by spring 32. in this manner there is formed a continuous electrical circuit from battery 30 through bulb 34, plate 38, pin 44, and spring 32.

In order to position spring 32 in its full line position there is provided a pin 50 which slidably extends through 2 a circular bore 52 in housing wall 18 into abutting engagement with conventional building closure 54.

In operation, when the building closure is closed spring 32 is put in its full line position by the pressure of pin 50. Setting of the mechanism is accomplished by pushing switch pin 44 upwardly to establish electrical communication with spring 32 and thereby energize bulb 34. The closure lock is thereby illuminated and the user is enabled to unlock the door 54.

When the door is opened the spring 32 automatically moves to the dotted line position so as to break contact with pin 44. Pin 44 drops down to the full line position to prevent re-establishment of the electrical connection when the door is again closed. The arrangement is such as to automatically prevent drain on the battery during periods of non-use.

I claim:

1. An illuminating mechanism for the keyhole of a closure lock comprising a housing; a light within said housing and provided with an energy source; conductor means within said housing and defining a circuit between the light and energy source, said conductor means comprising a deflectable arm; a manually actuable push button switch element extending out of the housing for movement into contact with said defiectable arm when said arm is in a deflected position; and a push button engaged with said defiectable arm and extending out of the housing into the path of the closure when said housing is positioned adjacent thereto, said push button being operable in response to closure pressure thereon to deflect the arm into the path of said push button switch element.

2. An illuminating mechanism for the keyhole of a closure lock comprising a housing; a light bulb within said housing and provided with an energy source; con ductor means within said housing and defining a circuit between the light bulb and energy source; said conductor means comprising a defiectable arm, a manually actuable pin axially slidably extended out of said housing for circuit-making movement into contact with said arm when it is in a deflected position, and a light bulb carrier continuously engaged with a side face of the pin; and a push button engaging said arm and extending out of the housing into the path of the closure when said housing is positioned adjacent thereto, said push button being operable in response to closure pressure thereon to deflect the arm into the path of the pin.

3. An illuminating mechanism for the keyhole of a closure lock comprising a housing; a light bulb within said housing and provided with an energy source; conductor means within said housing and defining a circuit between the light bulb and energy source; said conductor means comprising a defiectable arm; two right angularly positioned pins slidably extended out of the housing, one of the pins contacting an intermediate point on said arm and extending into the path of the closure when the housing is positioned adjacent thereto, the other of said pins acting as a switch element and being manually movable to a position in electrical contact with an end portion of the arm when said arm is in a deflected position; movement of said one pin in response to closure pressure thereon serving to deflect the arm into the path of said other pin.

4. An illuminating mechanism for the keyhole of a closure lock comprising a housing; a light bulb within said housing and provided with an energy source; conductor means within said housing and defining a circuit between the light bulb and energy source, said conductor means including a defiectable arm; two switch elements mounted in said housing for controlling current flow through said arm; one of said switch elements being positionable in the path of the closure and operable in re sponse to closure pressure thereon to move the arm into a deflected position when the housing is positioned adjacent the closure; said other switch element being manually actuable to engage the arm when said arm is in its deflected position'so as to allow current flow through the circuit; said other switch element having a path of movement along the surface of said arm so as to be locked thereagainst after manual actuation and be prevented from opening the circuit until after release of closure pressure on said one switch element; the arrangement thereby ing and defining a circuit between the light bulb and energy source, said conductor means comprising a deflectable arm; a first pin slidably extended through one of the housing side walls and contacting an intermediate point on said arm; said first pin extending into the path of the closure when the housing is positioned adjacent thereto; a second pin slidably extended through the bot tom wall of the housing and being manually movable to a position in contact with an end portion of the arm when said arm is in a deflected position; movement of said first pin in response to closure pressure thereon serving to deflect the arm into the path of said second pin, whereby said second pin is enabled to complete the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

